U.S. 80: Arizona’s 'other' iconic highway

Don’t believe the hype. 

Although the oodles of Route 66 kitsch might make you believe otherwise, U.S. Highway 66 is certainly not the most important early highway in the U.S. — or even Arizona.

Starting in Chicago and ending at the Santa Monica Pier, Route 66 doesn’t even provide coast-to-coast passage. And it was named the most overrated highway by American Heritage magazine in 2002.

Oh sure, there’s an undoubtedly catchy tune written about the “Mother Road." But you'll find Route 66 crucial more for the nostalgic freedom it represents than for the actual highway.

A better option for the most critical two-lane blacktop through Arizona is U.S. 80, which was big news back in the day. “More cars actually traveled into California on U.S. 80 than on Route 66,” Steven Varner, U.S. Highway 80 historian, says.

This federal highway was created in 1926. Starting along the Atlantic Ocean in Savannah, Georgia, U.S. 80 stretched for 2,726 miles through Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, New Mexico and Arizona before reaching the Pacific Ocean in San Diego.

Businesses offering gas, food and lodging set up shop along the route.

In 1927, the U.S. Bureau of Public Roads noted U.S. 80's most important aspect. “Because of the southern latitude and the comparatively low altitudes, the route is never blocked by snow and is open to automobile travel the year round. But where it crosses the Southwestern deserts, it has the disadvantage of being uncomfortably hot in the summer months.” 

Like an aimless traveler, U.S. 80 took a meandering transit of 541 miles through Arizona. The road’s path included Douglas, Bisbee, Tombstone, Tucson, Florence, Mesa, Tempe, Phoenix, Buckeye, Gila Bend and Yuma.

In the Valley, U.S. 80 followed Apache Trail, Main Street, Mill Avenue, Van Buren, 17th Avenue and Buckeye Road. The highway formed the northern boundary of the original Phoenix townsite, went by the copper-domed Arizona Capitol, and dipped down into the Art Moderne-style Southern Pacific railroad underpass.

While long stretches of Route 66 remain prominently marked for nostalgic motorists to get their kicks in northern Arizona, U.S. 80 has disappeared from the official state map. However, a recent heritage tourism effort has spotlighted the southern highway.

Route 80 was designated a Historic Arizona Road by a unanimous vote of the Arizona State Transportation Board in 2018.

“I’ve driven the entire highway three times and always find some overlooked gem,” says Demion Clinco, CEO of the Tucson Historic Preservation Foundation, whose organization initiated the designation. “U.S. 80 is like a time machine that captures what life was like in Arizona.”

Douglas C. Towne is the editor of Arizona Contractor & Community magazine, http://www.arizcc.com.